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DIY Coffee Mug for Teachers

A sweet and thoughtful gift idea, a DIY coffee mug for teachers with the phrase “thankyou for helping me grow” to show how much you appreciate their hard work and dedication.

Coffee mug for teachers with "thank you for helping me grow" phrase on the front and placed on top of a purple book.

Says Thanks with a DIY Coffee Mug for Teachers

It’s true, this DIY idea may be a bit too late for this school year as we just about approaching the end of the lessons. However, there is always next year…so keep this craft idea and free SVG in mind for the next time your child has an amazing teacher. The SVG cutting file is ready for uploading to Design Space to get you making gifts right away.

child holding a mug that is meant for his teacher

Since first making this craft using a standard mug with Smart Vinyl and our Cricut Joy, the Mug Press was released by Cricut! The cool thing about the Mug Press is that the application is permanent and won’t peel off over time like traditional vinyl on mugs. To find out more about it’s amazing features, check out our Ultimate Guide to the Mug Press and well as our awesome sister mugs craft!

Materials Needed:

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Materials needed to make a mug for teachers including a coffee cup, Cricut machine, vinyl and tools.

How to Make a DIY Coffee Mug for Teachers:

Gather supplies and thoroughly wash mug with soap and hot water and let them dry completely before using.

Preparing the Images:

Open Cricut Design Space and click on the “+” sign to start a new project, opening up a blank canvas.

Opening a blank canvas in Cricut design space program.

Click on the “Upload” button from the toolbar and browse your downloaded files to insert the SVG file. The cut image will appear on the canvas. 

Uploading text to Cricut design space.

With the image selected, click on the “Ungroup” button.

Ungrouping the text in Cricut design space.

Next, click on each individual layer with the same coloring and click on the “Attach” button. 

Maintain the size or adjust to fit your mug. To adjust the size, highlight the image and click on the size box in the top toolbar. Change the measurement to suit your mug size accordingly.

Adjusting the size and color of the phrase.

Change the image color if desired to match with the material color.

Adjusting the size and color of the phrase.

Cutting the Permanent Smart Vinyl:

Select “Make It” in the upper right corner to proceed with cutting.

If using Cricut Joy Smart Vinyl, choose “no mat” for cutting.

Choosing "without mat" option for CIricut Joy machine.

Note the size of the Smart Vinyl needed and cut the length of the vinyl accordingly for each material color.

Choose the Smart Vinyl, Permanent from the list of options in the drop down menu.

Following the instructions prompted on the screen, cut out the vinyl.

How to Assemble the Mugs

Cut around the images with a pair of scissors

Cutting the vinyl around the cut image.

Using the weeding tool, peel away the excess vinyl around the cut images and discard. 

Cut a piece of transfer tape a bit larger than the full size of the image combined. 

Cutting a piece of transfer tape.

Peel away the transfer tape backing and place the transfer tape overtop one of the cut images. Gently rub the vinyl to help it stick to the transfer tape.

Attaching the transfer tape ontop of the cut phrase.

Peel away the vinyl backing, leaving just the image adhered to the transfer tape.

Repeat for the other portion of the image in the other vinyl color, positioning the lettering so they are centered. Gently rub the vinyl to help it stick to the transfer tape and peel away the vinyl backing.

Removing the backing of the transfer tape and attaching to the cut phrase.

Carefully consider the placement before applying as the permanent vinyl can’t be removed if placed incorrectly. Position the image with the transfer tape on to the smooth side of the mug and press in place. 

Positioning the transfer tape onto the coffee mug.

If your mug has a curved surface, clip the transfer tape along the edges to help it wrap around the mug.

Pressing down the transfer tape and phrase onto a coffee mug.

Press the image down with your fingers to help it to stick to the mug.

Th transfer tape and phrase placed onto a coffee mug.

Slowly remove the transfer tape leaving the vinyl image on the mug.  

Close up of the coffee mug for teachers with the phrase "thank you for helping me grow" on the front.
Overhead view of coffee mug for teachers with "thank you for helping me grow" phrase on the front.

Need More Teacher Gift Ideas?

Nothing says thankyou quite as much as a handmade gift! So be sure to check out these DIY gift ideas to show them just how much you appreciate them!

Like it? Pin it for later!

Overhead view of coffee mug for teachers with text overlay.

DIY Coffee Mug for Teachers

Jane and Sonja
A sweet and thoughtful teacher gift idea, a DIY coffee mug to show you care.
5 from 1 vote

Materials
  

  • Teacher’s SVG File
  • Cricut Joy or other cutting machine with Fine Point Blade
  • Cricut Smart Vinyl Permanent, from Beachside Sampler
  • Cricut Transfer Tape
  • Ceramic Mug in a color of your choosing
  • Scissors
  • Weeder tool

Instructions
 

Preparing the Images:

  • Open Cricut Design Space.
  • Click on the “+” sign to start a new project, opening up a blank canvas.
  • Click on the “Upload” button from the toolbar and browse your downloaded files to insert the SVG file.
  • With the image selected, click on the “Ungroup” button.
  • Next, click on each individual layer with the same coloring and click on the “Attach” button.
  • Maintain the size or adjust to fit your mug.

Cutting the Permanent Smart Vinyl:

  • Select “Make It” in the upper right corner to proceed with cutting.
  • Choose the Smart Vinyl, Permanent from the list of options in the drop down menu.
  • Following the instructions prompted on the screen, cut out the vinyl.

How to Assemble the Mugs

  • Using the weeding tool, peel away the excess vinyl around the cut images and discard.
  • Cut a piece of transfer tape a bit larger than the full size of the image combined.
  • Peel away the transfer tape backing and place the transfer tape overtop one of the cut images.
  • Peel away the vinyl backing, leaving just the image adhered to the transfer tape.
  • Position the image with the transfer tape on to the smooth side of the mug and press in place.
  • Press the image down with your fingers to help it to stick to the mug.
  • Slowly remove the transfer tape leaving the vinyl image on the mug.
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